After having led Canada Blancs to a gold medal as head coach at the World Challenge for under 17s in 2024 and having helped the Canadian under-18s to win gold at the 2025 World Cup as an assistant coach, Mathieu Turcotte will be at the head of Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (U18) this summer.
During this tournament which will take place from August 11 to 16 in Czech Republic and Slovakia, Turcotte will be supported by associate coach Travis Crickard, head coach of the SEA Dogs of Saint-John, and deputy coach Rick Steadman (assistant to the Knights of London).
Two other Quebecers will make coach staff. Antoine Samuel will watch over the goalkeepers, then Qye Jonathan Deschênes will be video coach.
Canada is the defending champion of the tournament.
Turcotte has spent the last two seasons at the controls of the Armada of Blainville-Boisbriand in the LHJMQ before being thanked at the end of the most recent campaign.
Canada will start the preliminary round against Finland on August 11. The team also has an appointment with Switzerland and Czech Republic on August 12 and 13, respectively. The tournament will end on August 16 with matches for medals.
The summer national male team will play two preparatory games before the start of the tournament, one in Budapest against the national team under 20 of Hungary on August 7, and another in Piestany against Slovakia on August 9.